Stosur among winners in Osaka, Jankovic withdraws

Osaka, Japan (SportsNetwork.com) - Former champion Samantha Stosur was among
the winners Monday in the first round of the HP Open, while top-seeded Jelena
Jankovic withdrew from the tournament.

Jankovic, coming off a loss to Serena Williams on Sunday in the final of the
China Open, cited a left hip injury as the reason for her withdrawal. France's
Kristina Mladenovic was elevated to a ninth seed for the event and took
Jankovic's place on the top line of the draw.

Stosur, meanwhile, is this week's third seed and cruised past Sweden's Johanna
Larsson, 6-4, 6-2, on Monday. The Aussie won this event in 2009 and was the
runner-up in 2011.

Last year's champion, Heather Watson of Great Britain, was eliminated Monday
by eighth-seeded Monica Puig. The native of Puerto Rico claimed a 6-4, 6-4
victory and will next face Japanese wild card Kurumi Nara, a 6-3, 6-2 winner
over France's Caroline Garcia.